The title track of the EP was included in the band's debut album, Raise (1991).

Rave Down is the second of a string of EPs that was released in early 1990s by Swervedriver, following Son of Mustang Ford (1990) and preceding Sandblasted (1991).

[1] Andy Kellman of Allmusic wrote: "The bulldozing, bass-driven, Dinosaur Jr.-meets-Stooges onslaught continues in fine form."

On the title track, he commented that "it is undeniably one of Swervedriver's all-time career highs, churning and chugging with that effortless flair they often possessed."

Nevertheless, he also wrote that "B-sides are anything but afterthoughts or gap fillers," further explaining that "Afterglow" is the best of the extra material on the EP.